Adjustable chair



Feb. 6, 1945.- E. scHMuE-D ADJUSTABLE CHAIR `4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 15, '1941 [17am I Feb. 6, 1945. E. scHMuED ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed July 15, '19141 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 im@ Z 6 5, 6 l A m.. n l f .YL s VII 2 t W Y W W w S.: n I l 4 n` v. Y 1 4 A o0 D u w a o E H w 6 W M 5 wd, ,MJ H n 1y. a 4 m fWJ www 6 z w n U d y E J e o n e F Y@ \W\ @Mw 8 .W\\\\ fw. w 5 4. .9 1. 6 .Mw u 6 r..... v 4 IAM .V/ im MJ u .I F

Feb. 6, 1945. E. scHMUED .ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed .July 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Eet. c, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE cnAm Edgar Schmued, Inglewood. Calif., assignor to North American Aviation,

Inc., Inglewood,

Calif., acorporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1941, serial No. 402,452 13 Claims. `(Cl. 155-116) tive attitude of the seat and back portions both with respect to each other and tothe xed supporting portions. It is also an object to provide novel supporting means whereby the respective portions of the chair are 'articulatedor pivoted to each other and relatively movable Ias they are adjusted into .their respective positions. A fur- -ther object-of the present invention resides in the provision of an intermediate portion 4which is pivoted to and located between theseat and the back portions to assistvin the support of the back of the occupant during certain reclining positions of adjustment of the chair.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel locking mechanism which is easily operable from a' readily accessible position at the arm portion of the chair. A still further object of the present invention resides in the novel arrangement and relationship of the supporting, restor-A .ing and operating mechanism which is housed side panel removed to more clearly show the operating mechanism:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the supporting portion of the chair showing the operating and locking mechanism adjacent to the arm rest;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the locking mechanism with the supporting element partly broken away;

Figs. 5 and 6 are end and bottom views respectively, of the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking devicetaken along une 1 1 of Fig. 4:

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the lock as taken along th'eline 8-8 of Figs. 6 and`7;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the terminal of the locking bar rod;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the seat supporting cradle as viewed facing rearwardly at the right hand of the seat shown in Fig. 1 (occupants left hand) Figs. 11 and 12 show. enlarged views of the cor responding mechanism on the left side of the chair looking forwardly (occupants right side); Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional plan of the strut connection of the pivoting back frame as viewed at the right side of the chair; and

Fig. l14. is an enlarged sectional plan view of the `shock cord and locking bar attachment connections to the pivotalback'frame also at the right Side of the chair.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a plan view of the chair in a preferred form of the present invention which comprises essentially the 'two iixed sides or-supporting portions I5 and I6 from whichare adjustably carried the seat portion. Il, the back supporting rails I9, the back cushions and ZI and the intermediate cushion 22. For purposes of convenience in describing the present invention the right side of the chair has Y been designated by the numeral I5 and the -ieft on the right and left hand sides, respectively, as

stantially J-shaped in side elevation, having an side of the chair by the numeral I6, these being viewed by a person standing before the chair and looking rearwardly at it as the reader would view Figure 1 (being opposite to the right and left sides of the seated occupant). As will be seen from Fig. 2 the substantially rectangular side supporting sections I5 and I6 of the chair are formed in a hollow box or housing. the bottom of which is supported directly upon the floor, the right section I5 being provided with a front end I5f, a back end I5b and atop or arm rest portion I5a. 'I'he latter is provided with a slot 35a through which the locking knob 35 protrudes slightly in the region of the occupants left hand when it is resting upon the arm lia. Each side or supporting chair portion has a removable outside panel -for access to the chair operating mechanism, the lside panel having been removed from the support portion of Fig. 2.

The adjustable back portions ofthe chair are carried upon the back supports I9 which aresubarcuately curved lowerv portion and a relatively longer straight upper portion. The forward lower terminal of each back support or rail I9 ispivotally mounted upon the side sections I5 and I6 by the pivots 28 carried by the'supporting plates 46a. 'Ijhe upper back or head rest cushion 20 and the next lower back cushion 2| are each iixedly attached tothe upper portions of the Supporting rails I9. The intermediate cushioned portion 22 as its own side rail frames 22h which are pivmeans of 'the'p'ivots 23'dispos`ed closely adjacent the lower edge of the back cushion. The lower edge of each frme 22h of .the intermediate cushio'n 22 is hinged at 24 to the rear edge of the seat cushion I1, the hinge being supported from the cushion 22 and its frame 22B bythe plate 22a y and from the seat support I9 by its corresponding gusset plate loa.

The cushion 22 projects laterally beyond its side frames 22h to the same width as the adjacent the outer faces of the rails I9.

The seat cushion I1 is supported by the seai support frame I3 which is in turn supported b5 the cradle or yoke 25 which is formed from a substantially U-shaped tubular arrangement, a

side and lower corner being shown in Fig. 12j.

A plate I9b having an angle or shelf element bey .neath the seat support I8 is attached to the latter by screws or other suitable fastenings and is in turn welded or otherwise fixed to the transverse tubular element 25, causing the latter to forma rigid support for the seat extending up- -wardly within the sides I5 and i5 of the chair.

The upper terminal of each of the upwardly directed portions of the cradle 25 is each provided with rearwardly extending ear portions 25a to -which are pivotally connected the struts 21 by meansl of the pin bolts 28. The lower terminals of each-of the struts 21 are provided with transverse tubular members 29a which are pivotally supportedl from the rail members I9 by means of the pivot `bolts 29. Between the bifurcated lug portions 21a at the upper terminals of the struts 21 there are dis scd the link members 90 also free to pivot about the pins 28 and pivoted at their other, or rearward, terminals by thepvots 3| supported by the side sections I5 and It will be seen that the seat I1 with its cradle 25 xed thereto together with the struts 21 and the links 99 form an articulated linkage assembly, the seat position being determined by Y the iixed axis of the pivots 3 I the arcuately movable pivots 29 as they may rotate with the rails I9- within restricted limits about thepivots 25, and 'by its pivotal connegtion at 24 to the movable back assembly of the chair. Accordingly, the

inner side vpanels of the supporting sections I5 and I6 are each provided with elliptical openings 32 to provide suitable clearances for the movement of the cradle 25, as well as arcuateslots 33 to provide for the movement of the transverse pivots 29.

Each of the above described elements comprlsing me cradle z5, the strut.,y 21 and the una an forms the suspensionlinkage vfrom which the seat portion I1 is carried and together with the cushion section 22, also serves to determineY the position of. the seat portion. In'order to lock or ilx the movable portions of the chair in any of its positions there is provided a locking `mechanism in both of the xed'side portions I5and I6 ofthe chair, the lock having been shown as operable fromlthe right section of. the chair only as shown in Fig. 1. Both halves of the locking mechanism are operated in unison by the torque f Vtube 34 which extends between thev side sections in which it is journalled in'rv he bearing plates which are secured to the si e portions I5 andl I8.` T heseplates 40 are laterally spaced suill-l ciently therebelow to clear the seat portion I1.

` This transverse torque tube 34 is manually rocked l otally mounted upon the supporting rails I9 by cushions l1 and 2i, with which it is flush with by the occupant by forward or rearward pressure against the knob 35 carriedupon the upper terminal of the hand lever or bellcrank 38 which is pivotally mounted upon the side structure I5 at the fixed pivot 31. The remaining arm of the bellcrank 36 is pivotally connected to the upper adjustable terminal 39a of the push-pull rod 39, the lower terminal of which is in turn pivotally connected to the double lever plate 39 which is iixedly attached to the torque tube 34. The aforementioned elements of 'the locking system,

withthe exception of the tube 34 and levers 39, are

provided' in one of the side sections only, although under certain circumstances it may be desirable to have locking knobs in both arms of the chair to be operated either singly or simultaneously by the occupant.

The following described portions of thc locking mechanism are, however, provided in each side section of the chair, the parts being either' identical or opposite hand duplicates of those shown in Fig. 2 in the right side of the chair.

lAdjacent either terminal of the torque tbe,-34

there is provided the double lever plate 39 which is pivotally connected at its rearward portion to the lower terminal i'lttings of the push-pull rods 4I, the upper adjustable' terminals Mc of which are pivoted to the forward extremity of the locking levers 42.' Lock assemblies 43 are provided on each side of the chair and each comprises es sentially a ilxedsupporting frame portion 44 attach'ed to the sidesection and a trunnioned cylindrical body portion 45 within which the locking bar 49 is adapted to be releasablylocked in a plu- Y rality of positions. Each flocking bar 451s provided at its rear terminal with pivotal connections 41 to the back rails I9. It will accordingly be seen that as the back rails I9 are rotated simultaneously about their lower pivotal mountings 26 they can be maintained in any of the adjusted positions by locking of the assembly 83 thereby iingv the pivot point 41 with respect to the xed sides I5 andv I8.

In order that the movable portions of the chair may be readily restored from reclining to upright positions without the exertion of too great forces by the occupant, or to resiliently restrain its being lowered, the weight; of the reary or upper por.

tions of the chair is counterbalanced by means of the elastic shock cord 49 having its' rear terminal engaging the sheave or spool 48 concentrically rotatable about the, lock bar pivot terminal 41. Each rubber shock cord i9 extends from this movable terminal upwardly and forwardly beneath the arm rests ofr each sidesection, being guided over the idler shafts 52 and 53, pivotally mounted at 52aand 53a. The

cords thence extend downwardly adjacent the i front of the side sections I5; and I6! and the remaining terminals are anchored to the xed sheave 50 supported' on the side sections by the bolts 5I. In orderl to provide suitable clearance lyI shown in Figs. 3 and 14.

portions 45a pivotally engaging the pins 55 and forming a semicircuiar portion which isL open on its lower` side'to accommodate the 'hub portion the locking lever 42. 35 is moved forwardly the torque tube 34 is rotated in a clockwise direction and the sleeve 59.

-- aseaovo f 42b of the cam lever 42. The latter is also piv-` otally mounted between the sides of the sup-L porting frame 44 by means of the pivot pin 56. The side portions of the lock support 44 are interconnected by tubular tie portions 51, 51a, 51h and Ic through which are extended suitable fastening bolts by which the lock assembly 43 is rigidly anchored to the side sections I5 and I6 of the chair.

The hub portion 42b of the lock cam lever 42 is provided withlspaced ears 59 forming a. bifurcated portion which closely engages the reduced diameter portion 59a of the sliding sleeve 59.' The latter is provided with a central opening prefer-n leased from its wearing relationship wan the forward bevel ring 62. When the occupant has adjusted the chair back to the desired position release of the forward pressure upon the hand knob 35 permits the sleeve 59 to be returned to A its centralized position with respect to the body portion 45 dueto the action of the compression springs 6I which urge the balls 60 apart again into wedging engagement with both tapered rings' 62, and the chair back is again locked through fthe intermediacy of the rods 46,- in fixed positions with 4respect to the side sections I5 and I6.

When the lockingl assemblies 43 are released for movement of the chair back in either direc- .tion the chair may be adjusted either into its vextreme rearward or reclining position, or to a forward upright position, or into any of the inter-- mediate positions. As the back of the chair .is

Y released from a reclining position the shock cord provided interiorly with stepped diameter portions kand a reduced central opemng lat 45h against which are seated the tapered rings 62. These tapered yrings are spaced such that they are adjacent and outside the sets of `calls 60 and' 49 which exerts an upward and forward tensile pull upon the pivot 4l, serves to counteract the ward of the, rail pivots ,26. The shock cords 49 return the chair back 2I-22 to the upright poengage both the rod 46 and the rings 62 and prevent relative movement of the rod with respectI the end retainer 64 which is suitably fastened v to the body 45 and is provided with an inwardly extending lip portion 64a. which serves as a limit stop for the sliding cylinderv 59. A similar retaining ring 63 is provided to maintain the forward tapered ring 62 in its position,with respect to the Ibody 45, serving as a limit stop when it is engaged by the raised portion 59e of the sleeve. The inner portions of both retaining rings 63 and 64 are suitably boredto accommodate the sliding sleeve 59. The rod 46 .is pro.- vided wtih a terminal nut 46h to limit its movement with respect to the raised terminal of the sleeve 59 and is provided at its opposite terminal with an adjustable connection 46a to the pivot sleeve 41a as shown in Figs. 9 and 14.

In operating the lock assembly 43 thewedging or locking actionof the balls 6U is released by sition. The chair maybe adjusted by the oc'- cupant into either position while seated, being moved into the reclining position by pressure exerted upon the seat back. In the reclining attitudes of the chair back it willl be noted that the lower portions of the rails I9 become more widely spaced from the chairv seat I1 and its pivotal connection 24 with the intermediate cushion 22, such that the latterlis caused to rotate 'in an` opposite direction about its pivot 23 'and thereby assumes a position: which serves to lessen the sharpness of the angle between the upper cushion 2| and the seat cushion I1 conforming to the reclined form of the back of the occupantA At the same time rearward movement of the pivot 23 away from the cradle pivot 28-causes the seat to be rocked about the latter pivot 28, and its rear edge adjacent pivot 24 to be raised tending toward alignment of the seat with the section 22. Thisassists materially in supporting the back and shoulders of the occupant, achiev ing the desired contour for a reclining position and permitting greater relaxation and comfort.

movementin the proper direction of the hand knob 35 whichin turn imparts movements inthe same directionv to the sliding sleeve 59 due to rolling contact of the circular bifurcate ears 58 on Assuming tha vthe knob is caused to move forwardly with respect to the fixed supporting portion 44 and the trunnioned body 45 of the lock assembly 4l. This forward movement of the sleeve 59 with respect to the tapered rings 62 causes the rearmo' t set of balls 60 to be moved or released from i s wedging lit against the rearmost tapered unit 62 and permits the occupant to push the back of the seat rear As the rails I9 are rotated upwardly and forwardly about their pivots 26 it will be seen that v.they more closely approach the pivotal connection 24 between the seat I1 and the lower back 22 causing the intermediate o r lower back cushion 22 to be rotated about its pivot 23 such that -it becomes substantially alined with the rails I9 and the upper cushions 2|, the seat back then assuming a nearly vertical position in which the,

occupant is permitted to sit comfortably in an erect or upright attitude. i

Other forms and modifications of the present invention may occur to one skilled in the art after a reading of the foregoing description, but

all are intended to fall within the scope and spirit ,of this invention as more clearly defined '-in, the following claims.

wardly together with the attached locking rod i 46 which is permitted to slide rearwardly between the rolling balls 60. The chair cannot, however, be moved forwardly under this condition since the forward set of balls has not been reand an intermediate'chair portion Lbetween the seat and back pivotally connected to said seat and said back supports.

2. In an adjustable chair comprising a xed support portion, a back rotatably adjustable a -about a pivot carried upon said xed portion,

a strut element pivoted to said back, a, link element pivotally interconnecting a second pivot on said strut element with said xed chair portion, a seat supporting element suspended from l Ithe pivotal junction of said strut and link elements, a seat carried by said supporting elementi" and means pivotally interconnecting said seat with said back adapted to cooperate with said strut element in tiltingand positioning said seat dependent upon pivotal rotation of said back respect to said fixed support portion.

3. In a chair, a iixed supporting portion, a back support rotatably adjustable about a pivotal sup port upon said fixed portion, a seat portion, an l element pivotally mounted at one terminal upon saidfixed portion, a second element pivotally mounted upon said back support, both said elements having a common pivotal connection with said seat portion, anintermediate cushion portion pivotally supported upon said seat portion and said back support, and means for locking the said back support in any one of its positions of adjustment.l y 4. In a chair, a fixed supporting portion, a 30 back support rotatably adjustable about a pivotal support upon said fixed portion, a seat portion, an element pivotally mounted at one terminal upon said supporting portion, a second element with'respect to said xed support portion, lock-` ingmeans adjustably linking said iixedsupport and back portions, and resilient restoring means interconnecting said back with said fixed support 1ments pivotally supported upon said side supports andsaid struts adapted to cooperatively determine therewith the location of said seat/,

supporting cradle, and an intermediate chair' .portion interconnecting the rear portion of said seat with said back adapted to impart opposite tilting movements to said seat dependent upon lthe tilted relationship of said back with respect to said side supports.

8. In a vlock foran adjustable chair comprising f relatively xed and movable chair portions, a rod element pivotally connected to a movable portion of said chair, a ball-carrying sleeve elementslidingly embracing said rod element, a cylinder element having outwardly reducing wedging rings engageable by said balls, said cylinder pivoted 'to a ixed chair portion and within which said :sleeve element is slidable, and manual `means for moving said sleeve with respect tosaid cylinder element for the release of the wedging relationship of certain of said balls between said rod and cylinder elements. i 9. In an adjustable chair comprising a suppivotally mounted a1; one of itsterminals upon 35 port, a back portion pivotally supported by said said back support, the remaining terminals of said elements having a common pivotal connection with said seat portion, an intermediate cushionvportion pivotally supported upon the rear of said seat portion and said ba'ck support, lock 40 means for fixing the said back support in any one of its adjusted positions with respect to said iixed position, and resilient means connecting said back suppOrt with said lined supporting portion tending to restore said back toward a ver- 4g support.

tical position. er

5. In an adjustable chair comprisin'gpa xed support portion, a back rotatably adjustable about a pivot carried upon said xed portion, a

strut element pivoted to said back portion, a link element pivotally interconnecting a further portion .of said strut element with said fixed portion, a seat-supporting element suspended from the adapted to cooperate with said strut and link elements in tilting and positioning saidseat dependent upon pivotal rotation o said back with respect to said fixed portion, andl locking means element, and manual mean adjustably connecting said xed support and back portions:

6. In an adjustable` chair comprising a xed support portion, a back rotatably adjustable about a pivot carried upon said xed portion, 35 ya strut element pivoted to said back portion, a

link element pivotally interconnecting a spaced '^terconnected and relatively adjustable with respect to a, support portion, of means for the piv" pivot on said strut element with said xed portion, a seat-supporting element suspended from the pivotal junction of said strut and link elesaid back adapted to cooperate with said strut and link elements in tiltingv and positioning said support, a seat portion pivotally supported at a movable point at the convergence of a pair of relatively movable links separately supported from said support and'back portions, an intermediate cushion portion pivotally interconnecting said back'and seat portions adaptedto im part tilting movements to said seat portion oorresponding lto adjusted positions ofv said back, and means' to lock said chair portions in each of their adjusted positions with respect to said 10.' In an .adjustable chair comprising xed side portions and movable seat and back portions, a locking device including a rod element pivotally connected to one of said movable por.

tions, a ball-carrying sleeve having an opening engaged by said rod element, a trunnioned cylinder `having opposed outwardly reducing wedging elements engageable byv said balls, said cylinder pivotally mounted upon one of said ixed side portions and adapted to form a housing within which said sleeve is reciprocable, resilient..means disposed between said balls urging them into -a lockingrelationship between the wedging elements of said cylinder and said rod adapted to move said Vsleevewith respect to s idcylinder moving saidl balls for the release -of said rod from locking relatioinship with said ball-carrying sleeve.'-

11. The combination with an adjustable chair comprising seat and back portions pivotally in otal support ofsaid s'eat portion including a pairL of diverging links pivotally interconnected to each other in the region of said seatsuppo and pivotally connected at their divergent ter inals, one tosaid back portion and the other to said support portion. v v seat dependent upon pivotal rotation of said back 1 2. An adjustable chair comprising Vconnected* xed portions, a seat portion, back supports pivotally supported from said fixed portions, a cradle element having pivotal connections for the support of said seat portion, strut elements pivotally interconnecting said cradle pivots and said back supports, means pivotally interconnecting said .struts and cradle pivots with said fixed,

portions, and a portion intermediate the seat portion and back supports interconnecting said seat portion and back supports. y

13. An adjustable chair comprising connected fixed portions, a seat portion, back supports'piv otally supported from said tlxedsportions, a cradle element having pivotal connections for the support of said seat portion, strut elements pivotally interconnecting said cradle element and said'.I

back supportsmeans' pivotally interconnecting said struts and cradle pivots with said fixed portions, a. portion intermediate the seat portion and back supports interconnecting said seat portion and back supports; and; locking means including an adjustable lengthmember pivotaily intercom nected between one of said fixed portions and a back support. 

